February 2008 LODDs

[hp4l]

This one is from the secret list. All LODDs are upsetting, but this one was a little harder to read.

It is with deep regret that we advise you of the Line of Duty Death of Captain Donald Hubbel, Baltimore City Rescue Company #1 which occurred yesterday, February 1, 2008. For those who knew Captain Hubbel, and those who are learning about him thru The Secret List, this tragic loss is especially harder to cope with and understand because his death occurred just a few hours before they were planning on attending his Son’s graduation ceremony from the Baltimore City Fire Academy. Last evening the entire membership of Baltimore City Rescue Company #1 filled in for their Captain in presenting his son his certificate of completion of training at the Baltimore City Fire Academy graduation ceremony of Class 01/07.

The Baltimore City Fire Officer’s web site has a general discussion on the forum of those in mourning over the loss of Captain Hubbel, as he has touched so many on Local, State and National levels. While he died at home from a cardiac while working out, the death of Captain Hubbel falls as a Line-Of-Duty Death, as it is within the guidelines of the amended Hometown Heroes Act to include heart attacks and strokes when death occurs within twenty-four hours of an on-duty activity including training.

Those of you who want to leave condolence messages are encouraged to do so by visiting the site: www.baltimorefireofficers.com/fireofficers/index.htm and clicking on the “Forum” link. We also encourage you to check out Rescue Company # 1's web site: www.bcfdrescueone.com/

We will post additional details as soon as they become available. The above sites will also keep you informed. It is no secret that the Baltimore City Fire Department has been thru some very tough times, and this just adds to their grief. We sincerely send our condolences to all affected, especially the members of the Baltimore City FD, Rescue Company 1 and of course, Captain Hubbel's family.

[hp4l]

Another from the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you that the Chief of the
Ohio City FD in Ohio City, Ohio (30 miles to the east of Ft. Wayne, IN) has died in the Line of Duty. Veteran Fire Chief, Paul Swander, age 74, went to the fire station around 1400 hours on Thursday January 31 to fuel the station generator due to an impending winter storm. To fuel the generator, it required him to ascend a ladder into a loft area where the generator is located. At some point he fell from the ladder and was discovered 3-4 hours later by his son. He was transported to the hospital where he was then transferred by helicopter to the Parkville Hospital in Ft. Wayne, IN where he passed away yesterday. Additional details will be posted. As always, our condolences to all affected.

[hp4l]

Another from the secret list:

We regret to advise you of an LODD FD ambulance crash involving the Brown Township Fire Department in Central Indiana (Morgan County). Police report that an SUV crossed the center line on State Road 144 and struck the ambulance head on. A member of the BTFD was killed in the Line of Duty. Another BTFD member was transported to the hospital in an unknown condition. The civilian driver of the SUV was also pronounced dead at the scene. The ambulance was not in an emergency response when the crash occurred....they had just dropped off a patient at the hospital. Additional details will follow.

[hp4l]

And another:

LONG ISLAND, NY FD LODD-The West Islip FD (Suffolk County) experienced an LODD. EMT Edward Mueller, age 49, suffered a heart attack within the 24 hours of responding to his last alarm this weekend. He was West Islip's top responder in 2007. Our sincere condolences go out to all affected.

[JDub]

I am helping out hp4l since he is away.

From the Secret List

The Rio Grande Valley's Medical Helicopter (South Texas Emergency Care) based in Harlingen (Texas) was lost from radar this evening and it has been determined that it crashed and all on board were killed in the Line of Duty. This happened in lower Laguna Madre, a large bay, in deep South Texas. Additional details to follow.

[JDub]

From The Secret List


ILLINOIS LODD: We regret to advise you that Fire Chief Matthew Hubly, 43, of the Kankakee Township FPD died in the Line of Duty Thursday several days after being stricken at that fire department-related meeting. Funeral arrangements are pending. Our condolences to all affected by the sad loss of Chief Hubly.

[FirstDue312]

A Firefighter from Concord (N.C.) was killed in the Line of Duty yesterday when he lost control of the truck he was driving, while responding. Firefighter James Earl Arthur, 19, was responding as a member of the Coldwater VFD around 1930 hours when he ran off the road on the left after rounding a sharp curve. FF Arthur overcorrected and lost control of the 2003 Ford pick-up truck, which began overturning. He was reportedly not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the truck. Our sorrow goes out to all affected.

[JDub]

From The Secret List


FIRE CHIEF LODD: It is with deep regret that we advise you that Chief Kerry Sheridan, of the Troy Township (IL) FD died while on duty Tuesday, in his Troy Township Fire Protection District office. Chief Sheridan, 75, was found unresponsive in his office, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1530 hours. The Coroner said Chief Sheridan's death was attributed to natural causes. Chief Sheridan is survived by his wife, Donna and was the father of two daughters.
Funeral Information: The services for Sheridan were tentatively scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home. Our condolences to the Chiefs family, Firefighters and friends.

[hp4l]

Thanks for filling in guys. I got back last night after 2 days of delays at the airport. I will be on later to see what else has been going on. Thanks again for keeping everyone up to date with this info.

[hp4l]

From the secret list. More info to come I hope. I will update as info comes in.

A Dayton (PA) Firefighter died in the Line of Duty in Armstrong County. The Dayton Firefighter was responding to a call last night when he died of a medical condition at the Dayton Fire Station. The Firefighter's name has not been released but the Firefighter had been with the department for at least 40 years. Our sincere condolences to all affected.

[hp4l]

Another from the secret list:

In New Mexico earlier today, Fire Chief Michael Hays was tragically killed today at an explosion at the Brazos Canyon fire station when he stopped in to pick up the mail. Some reports have the Chief as recently retired as the Chief but still a member of the FD. We will have more details on this in the morning. We have some photos that have been posted on our home page.

[hp4l]

From the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you that Captain Vance Tomaselli of the San Bernardino County F.D.
(Calif) has died in the Line of Duty after suffering a stroke while driving an engine company on a fire call last Saturday.
According to reports, he was trying to tell his fire dispatchers that he knew something was wrong with himself, and he was trying to get off the road when he sideswiped a tree. At noon last Saturday, the 60-year-old Fire Captain and a trainee were responding to a structure fire in Angelus Oaks. If Tomaselli had lost control of the engine, the rig likely would have plunged down a mountainside, a SBCFD spokesman said. That could have killed both occupants. Instead, Captain Tomaselli negotiated the turn where other firefighters came to his aid and summoned a medical helicopter....he probably saved the life of his crew member. Captain Tomaselli, who joined the Fire Department 27 years ago, underwent surgery Saturday, but succumbed to his medical emergency. Our sincere condolences to all affected by this loss.

[hp4l]

Another from the secret list:

GA FF LODD: We regret to advise you that a basic Firefighter student who collapsed yesterday while participating in a non-burn training evolution at the Georgia Fire Academy, has died in the Line of Duty. While in full gear during a drill, FF Joey Turner, a 48 year old Volunteer Firefighter from Clinch County collapsed from an apparent sudden cardiac arrest. He received immediate on-scene care to include CPR and the use of an AED before being turned over to local EMS. He was transported to Monroe Co. Hospital in critical condition and once stabilized, was transported to the Medical Center of Central Ga. This afternoon the family made the difficult decision to remove life support. Our condolences to all affected by the loss.

[hp4l]

And another from the secret list today:

We regret to advise you that a Fire Captain (age 34) with the Ault-Pierce Fire Protection District (Colorado) rolled their apparatus this morning and was killed in the Line of Duty on a rural road. The Firefighter was responding to a medical emergency around 0630 hours when the truck rolled in an intersection. The rig was a tender/tanker-pumper and it ran off the left side of the road, overcorrected, then ran off the right side, rolling one-quarter time and ejecting the driver. More details to follow. As always, our most sincere condolences go out to all affected. Take Care-BE CAREFUL. SLOW DOWN. SEAT BELTS.